Giant Pumpkin Suite by Melanie Heuiser Hill managed to combine many of my favorite things, all while reminding me of my childhood in Minnesota. Twins and gardening and cellos and a hint of Japanese culture. I adored The Incredible Magic of Being, in which a boy with an overprotective mother. The narrative mixed with FARTs (facts and random things) and easy-to-grasp explanations of science-y things that interest Julian. He’s an odd little cookie, and we gradually learn why as the story unfolds. And in Dealing with Dragons, Princess Cimorene’s interests always seem to fall in the “not done” category. Normally, she’d need to be properly kidnapped in order to become a dragon’s princess, but Kazul is willing to make an exception.
C. J. Milbrandt 